215-221

215 American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 6(4): 215-221, 2012 ISSN 1995-0748

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Seedsmorpho-Metric Characteristics And Germination Capacity Of Some Jatropha Curcas L. provenances 1

Babacar DIOP, 1Sékouna DIATTA, 1Emile Codjo Agbangba, 1Lamine BARRO, 2Samba Arona N’Diaye SAMBA and 1Léonard Elie AKPO

1

Laboratoire d’Ecologie végétale et d’Eco-hydrologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar (Sénégal) BP : 5005, 2 Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agriculture, Université de Thiès (Sénégal) B.P. 967 Babacar DIOP, Sékouna DIATTA, Emile Codjo Agbangba, Lamine BARRO, Samba Arona N’Diaye SAMBA and Léonard Elie AKPO: Seedsmorpho-Metric Characteristics And Germination Capacity Of Some Jatropha Curcas L. provenances ABSTRACT The selection of variety with interesting agro-morphological characteristics is particulary important in the integration process of Jatropha in agroforestry systems and yield improvement. Currently, few studies have examined the morphological characteristics of seeds. The present study, therefore, aimedat evaluating the germinative capacity of some Jatropha curcas(L) seeds fromSenegal, Togo, Madagascar, India, Indonesia, China and Kampuchea in relation to their morpho-metric characteristics. The seeds result from a plantation of 50 hain the village of Beud Dieng in the area of Thiès, Senegal. The characterization of seeds related to dimensions, weight, latency time, rate and duration of germination. The seeds have been collected on three types of branches which were: primary ramification (R1), secondary ramification (R2) and tertiary ramification (R3). The collected seeds were germinated in pots filled with sandy clay soil and arranged in randomized complete block design. The results showed that the weight of seeds and their morphology varied according to thedifferent provenanceand the position of the branches. The interaction between these two factors was very highly significant (p = 0,000) at level of 5%. The African provenance (Senegal and Togo) had bulkier seeds and a better level of germination. Whatever the source, the morphological parameters of seeds were higher on the branches of order 2 (secondary ramification). The relation between the morphology of seeds and the germinative capacity was well established. Key words: seeds, branches, germinative capacity, volume, weight Introduction Jatropha curcas. L or "tabanani" (in Wolof) and jatropha (in French) isa arboreal plant of Euphorbiaceae family, native to Central America (Nicolas, 2010). In Africa it is found in savannas in Senegal and in Cameroon (Assogbadjo and Sinsin, 2010). It is a rustic specyand a new speculation. The interest of the specie is that the plant produces seeds containing between 27-40% of oil (Üllenberg, 2007). The characteristics of the oil are very similar with those of diesel (Heller, 1996). The plant can also grow on degraded soil unsuitable for crops (Heller, 1996; Üllenberg, 2007; Grimm, 1996). In this context, many authors are interested in increasing the value of the species. Thus, studies on Jatropha seeds were carried out in particular on the genetic diversity (Iqbal et al., 2010).A major constraint in the production of Jatropha is the low germination rate of seeds (Akma et al., 2009). This comes from seed waterproof and therefor causes physical dormancy on them (Holmes et al., 1987). A study on seeds germination showed that the water content, viability, germination decrease with increasing in storage period (Niranjan et al., 2010). The selection of variety with interesting agro-morphological characteristics is particulary important in the integration process of Jatropha in agroforestry systems and yield improvement.Currently, few studies have examined the morphological characteristics of seeds. The present study, therefore, aimed at studying (i) the morpho-metric seeds of different provenances of J. curcas, (ii) the production of branches (iii) and seed germination. Material And Methods Corresponding Author: Babacar DIOP, Laboratoire d’Ecologie végétale et d’Eco-hydrologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar (Sénégal) BP : 5005, E-mail: [email protected]

216 Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric. 6(4): 215-221, 2012

Study area: The study was conducted in a plantation of 50 hectares in the village of Beud Dieng in the rural community of Marina Dakhar located in the west-central of the ‘’bassin arachidier’’, Thiès region.

Fig. 1: Map of study area Physical environment: 

Climate characterization:

The climate changes from dry to wet accordingto Lebrogne’s classification (1990). During the year, we have successively two seasons: - A short rainy season called "winter" which extends from June to October. Rainfall is caused by the monsoon. The major characteristic of it is the weaknesses and interannual irregularities of precipitation (Figure 2). - A long dry season of 7 months from November to May, it was during this period that the water balance was heavily in deficit. The temperature variations were very important. Its minimum and maximum monthly averages were 20 and 33 ° 3 ° Celsius. During these same years, the minimum monthly average of the humidity was 38% and the maximum average was 86%.

Fig. 2: Gap of the annual average rainfall from 1981 to 2010




Soils characterization:

The study area was characterized by the presence of plain and slightly leached tropical ferruginous soil, sandy (Dior) and low in organic matter (Lebrogne,1990).The surface drainage system was nonexistent. Poor rains infiltrate deep soils that dry quickly. 

Field characterization:

Seven provenances of J. curcas have been producedand arranged inlines in plots of 40 x 25 m due to a source per plot. The plants, grown from seeds of different origins were raised in nurseries for 5 months before being transferred to the field on April 15, 2009. The distance between lines was4 m and 2.5 m between poquetsat a density of 1000plants/ha. They were watered using the drop by drop system until the beginning of winter in2009. 

Data collection:

To avoid edge effects, seed collection was performed from the third line. We then conducted a three-line jump from one foot to the other measured up to cover every inch.The measured parametersfocused on seeds size and weight. - For size, 50 seeds were sampled by type of branch (ramification order 1 (R1), order 2 (R2) and order 3 (R3)) or 150 seeds per provenance. The measurements have been done with an electronic caliper (Mitutoyo). The observed variables were: length (longitudinal axis), width (lateral axis) and thickness (radial axis). - The seeds previously dried in an oven for 48 hours at 60° C were weighed with a precision electronic scale (1/1000). Ten (10) weightings were made for each source and for each type of branch due to 5 seeds per weighing. - After shelling, the kernels weight has also been measured following the same procedure as for the measurement of the seeds. - For a betterappreciation of the potential germinative capacity of seeds, we successively studied their viability, the latency and duration of germination. Seedlings occurred in pots filled with soil taken from the botanical garden of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. One lot of nine pots was established for each source due to three seeds per pot. The pots were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Each batch was repeated 4 times. Statistical analysis: An analysis of variance through a fixed model with two factors (provenance and branch type) was performed with Minitab14 software. Results: Seeds’ Morpho-metric characteristics: 

Seedsweight:

The Analysis of variance on the seed weight showed a very highly significant interaction (p = 0.000) between the provenance and type of branch (Table 1). The weight of seeds and kernels vary with different provenances and types of branches. Provenances of India (Jas-In) and Cambodia (Jc-Ca) did not fructified at branch 3, the statistical test was therefore concerned the branches of order 1 and 2. The results showed that seed weight was higher when obtained from branches of order 2 for provenances Jc-Ch, Jc-In-My Jc, Jc and Jc-To-Se. For other provenances, seed weight was the same regardless of the branch type. Seed weight was also higher for African origins (Jc-Ma-To Jc, and Jc-Se) with 0.4 g for the Asian provenances (Ch-Jc, Jc-In, Ind.-Jc, and Jc -Ca) with 0.3 g regardless of the branches.

218 Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric. 6(4): 215-221, 2012 Table 1: Results of ANOVA on seed weight and Kernels Parameters avrge s w

avrge k w

Source

DF

F

P

DF

F

P

provenance

6

126,53

0,000*

6

40,75

0,000*

branches

2

202,52

0,000*

2

42,66

0,000*

provenance*branches

12

74,29

0,000*

12

12,44

0,000*

Error

189

189

Total 209 209 Legend: Wavrge S: Average of seeds weight; W avrge K: Average of kernels weight; DF: Degree of Freedom;P: Probability ; F: Fischer ; ***Hyghly significant.

Fig. 3: Variations in average seed weight of seven provenances of Jatropha on the different types of branch (R1, R2 and R3). 

Seeds size:

Analysis of variance on the length, width and thickness of seeds (Table 2) indicated a very highly significant interaction (p = 0.000) between the provenances of seeds and the type of branches. As for weight, seed size was a parameter whose variation was based on provenances and types of branches. A great variability was noted in seed size. The amplitude of variation was important because in the entire provenance, the length of the seeds ranged from 14.54 to 17.06 mm, width from 10.63 to 11.15 mm and 7.40 to 8, 24 mm for thickness (Table 3) Table 2: Results of ANOVA on the size of seeds Parameters Ls

Wk

Ts

source

DF

F

P

DF

F

P

provenance

6

1047

0,000*

6

1580

0,000*

branche

2

2441

0,000*

2

3856

0,000*

2

2853,3

0,000*

provenance*branche

12

1085

0,000*

12

1600

0,000*

12

1216,2

0,000*

Error

189

189

DF 6

F

P

1306,7

0,000*

189

Total 209 209 209 Legend: LS : average lentgh of seeds ; WK : average widgh of kernels ; TS : average thickness of seeds ; DF : Degree of Freedom ; P : Probability ; F : Fischer ; *Highly significant.

219 Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric. 6(4): 215-221, 2012 Table 3: Results of ANOVA on size of seven provenances of J. curcas L. L (mm) W (mm) R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 Jc-Ch 14,54 a 16,28 cd 15,40 b 10,63 a 10,83 ab JC-In 16,06 bcd 16,21 cd 10,89 ab 10,94ab JC-Ind 16,07 bcd 16,10 bcd 16,33 cde 10,80 ab 10,99 ab JC-Ca 15,81 bcd 15,89 bcd 10,92 ab 11,00 ab JC-Ma 14,66 a 17,06 e 16,25 cd 10,99 ab 11,11 b JC-To 15,94 bcd 16,12 bcd 16,13 bcd 11,15 b 10,95 ab JC-Sen 15,73 bc 16,50 de 16,25 cd 10,65 a 10,98 ab Values of the same letters are equivalent at the level of p ≤ 0.05

T (mm) R1 7,83 bcd 7,88 bcd 7,84 bcd 7,76 bc 7,87 bcd 8,08 cde 7,40 a

R3 10,63 a 10,98 ab 10,98 ab 11,01 ab 10,90 ab

R2 7,91 bcde 7,80 bcd 7,73 ab 7,80 bcd 8,24 e 8,10 de 8,01 bcde

R3 7,77 bcd 7,83 bcd 7,98 bcde 8,10 de 7,94 bcde

Within the same provenance, all the parameters related to the size of seeds, length, width and thickness of seeds branches differ between R1, R2 and R3. The difference resulted in length of seeds on R2 compared to other branches (R1 and R3) for provenances Ch-Jc, Jc-In, My-Jc and Jc-Se. The length has not varied between the three types of branches for Ca and Jc-Jc-To. Only the Jc-Ind presented morelength on R3 than compared to R1 and R2. The variation in provenance indicated larger seeds on branches R2 for Jc and Jc-Ch-Ma. Conversely, the width of the seeds was the same across all branches for provenances Jc-In, Ind.-Jc, Jc Jc-It-ToSe and Jc. The thickness of the seeds was also the same on branches R2 and R3 for Jc and Jc-To-Se; on the branches R1 and R3 for Jc and J-Ch-Ind and on branches R1 and R2 for Jc-In. It was different on all the branches for Jc-Ma (Table 3). Considering the variations between provenances, we observed a predominance of all parameters related to seed size (length, width and thickness) for provenances Jc-Ch, Jc-Ma and Jc--Se at branches of order 2. 

Correlation:

The results indicated a highly significant correlation between all parameters (table 4). Size parameters and weight were positively correlated. The simple linear regression between weight of seeds and kernels indicated a high correlation (Seed Weight = 0.1918 + 1.154 Almond Weight). This relationship, valid for all provenances, showed that seed weight was linked to that of the kernel. Table 4: Correlation between morpho-metric parameter (average length, average width and average thickness) and the average weight of seeds and kernels. Average length Average width Average thicknes Average weight Average width 0,989 0,000*** Average thickness 0,989 0,994 0,000*** 0,000*** Average seed height 0,917 0,895 0,904 0,000*** 0,000*** 0,000*** Average kernel heigh 0,683 0,649 0,662 0,900 0,000*** 0,000*** 0,000*** 0,000*** Legend: ***Very highly significant

0,50

Regression 95% C I 95% PI

0,45

S R-Sq R-Sq(adj)

Seed Weight

0,40

0,0181483 87,7% 87,7%

0,35 0,30 0,25 0,20 0,00

0,05

0,10 0,15 A lmond Weight

0,20

0,25

Fig. 4: Relation between seeds and kernels weight of different provenances of Jatopha curcas L


Germination of seeds: The latency of the seeds did not vary according to provenance; it was 5 days regardless of the provenances. From the fifth day after sowing, the seeds of all provenances have started to germinate (Figure 5). Germination time was spread over nine days to count the first day after sowing for all provenances except those from Senegal, Togo and India where it was 8 days after sowing. The germination rate was variable depending on seeds provenance, it was higher (58-60%) for seeds from Senegal and Togo, followed by Cambodia and Madagascar (47 to 50%), China, India and Indonesia (18-20%). Jc-Ch Jc-Ma

Jc-ind Jc-To

Jc-Ind Jc-Se

Jc-Ca

70.0

Germination rate (%)

60.0 50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 1

2

3

4

5

6 7 Time (days)

8

9

10

Fig. 5: Evolution in germination of seeds of different provenances of J. curcas aged from 1 month depending on the number of days after sowing Discussion: A comparative study of morpho-metric parameters has been done on seven seed provenances of J. curcas freshly harvested. The parameters which have been measured relative to the seeds size (length, width, thickness) and theyweight showed a diversity of provenance. Provenances Jc-Ch, Ma and Jc-Jc-As are opposed to those of In-Jc, Jc-Ins, and Jc Jc-Ca-To by seed size. For the first, the inter and intra – provenance variability is not in the same order. The morphology of the seeds varies according to the branches of the same plant and from one to another. They are longer and wider at the branches of order 2. For the second, the inter and intra – provenance variability is in the same order. The size of their seeds is the same regardless of the branches. The differences observed between these different provenancescould have a genetic or climatic source. According to Assogbadjo and Sinsin, 2010, morphological characteristics are not influenced by variables related to soil such as pH or organic matter. Furthermore, examination of seed weight shows that it is influenced by the effect of provenance and branchposition. Our results suggested that seed weight is more imputed to the kernel than the nut. These results are consistent with the findings of Duchêne, (2007) who established that nut weight is about 40% of the seed and kernel 60%. The germination test on seeds of different provenances of J. curcas L. showed that the maximum time of removal of seeds is 8 days after sowing with a mean germination rate equal to 58% for Africanprovenance (Togo and Senegal). These results are similar to those obtained by Legendre , 2008 on the performance test on fresh seeds collected in the region of Fatick (Senegal), with a germination rate of about 60% and those obtained by Heller, 1987 with 62% germination rate of seeds aged of 2 to 6 months. However, for provenances China, India and Indonesia the rate is much lower (18-20%). Our results showed that the germination rate is higher with the seeds that are larger in this case the provenances of Senegal and Togo. The effect of seed size on germination rate would be related to the quantity of reserves contained in the cotyledons. The difference noted may also be partly explained by the seedcoat dormancy (Ouattara et al., 2011). The latency is not as varied according to provenance. All accessions showed a latency of 5 days. The same result is obtained by Akmaet al., 2009. The latency is a characteristic linked to the species and not to the provenance (Diatta, 2002 and Salifou,2002).


Conclusion: The results obtained allow noting that the morphology and the average seed weight vary among provenances of J curcas. However, if the provenances may be major sources of variation, the type of branches seems to be a factor in the further characterization of morpho metric parameters of seeds. It is further established that the germination of seeds is related to their morphology. References Akma, I., N. Anuar and Z. Yaakob, 2009. Effet de génotypes et de pré-semis traitements sur le comportement de germination du Jatropha Asian.Journal of Plant Sciences, 8: 433-439. Assogbadjo, A.E., B. Sinsin, 2010. Etat actuel de la diversité végétale au Benin. In Atlas de la Biodiversité de l’Afrique de l’ouest, B Sinsin, D Kanpman eds. Tome 1, Volume 1. Diatta, S., 2002. Modes de propagation de ligneux fourragers sahéliens: germination et premières étapes de croissance de Maerua crassifolia Forskau laboratoire,mémoire de DEA, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar., Sénégal, pp: 23. Duchêne, B., 2007. L'huile de pourghère (jatropha curcas) comme carburant des groupes électrogènes. Electriciens sans frontières. Pays de la Loire. Version 1. Grimm, C., 1996. Le projet Jatropha au Nicaragua. Bagani Tulu (Mali). 1: 10-14 Heller, J., 1996. Physic nut. Jatropha curcas L. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Notes, Gatersleben/ International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome Italy, pp: 66. Holmes, RJ., J. Mc Donald and J. Juritz, 1987. Effets de la compensation sur le traitement de la banque de semences saligna Alinene Acacia invasive arbustes et Acacia cyclops dans le Sud du Western Cape, Afrique du Sud. J. Applied Ecol., 24: 1045-1051. Ikbal, K.S. Boora and RS. Dhillon, 2010. Evaluation of genetic Diversity in Jatropha curcas L using RAPD markers.Indian journal of bioptechnology, 9: 50-51. Lebrogne, J., 1990. La dégradation actuelle du climat en Afrique, entre le Sahara et l’Equateur. In "la dégradation de l’environnement en Afrique de l’ouest – Editeur : J. RICHARD. Legendre, B., 2008. Culture du Jatropha Curcas L. Note agronomique n°1. Technologie for Humain Development. http:/www.riaed.net (Consulté le 14 aout 2011). Nicolas, C., 2010. Jatropha curcas L : un examen. Les progrès de la recherche botanique, 50: 39-86 Niranjan, H.G., B.H.N. Ramesh, N. Rajeshwari and S. Sudeer, 2010. Effet des traitements avant le semis sur la germination et la Vigueur des graines stockées en Adhésions de Jatropha curcas L. prélevées dans différents lieux de Karnataka. Res Rev Biomed Biotech, 1(2): 94-100. Ouattara, B., K.N. Ndir, I. Diedhiou, D. Diouf and L.E. AKPO, 2011. Effect of water regimes and pre-sowing treatments on seeds germination of different provenances of Jatropha curcas L. in Senegal.Int. J. of Sci. Adv Tech, 1(9): 151-156. Salifou, I., 2002. Contribution à la domestication de deux espèces fourragères spontanées: Alysicarpus ovalifolius (Schum. and Thorn. J.) Léonard et Maerua crassifolia Forsk. Doctorat 3è cycle, Biologie végétale, Université Abdou Moumouni., Niamey, pp: 124. Üllenberg, A., 2007. Jatropha à Madagascar. Rapport sur l’état actuel du secteur GTZ Agresti A, Analysis of categorical data. New York, USA 1990.